He was a student of 'Allamah Tabataba'i and Imam Khomeini and was considered to be one of the most influential contemporary Iranian clerics in expounding upon Islamic teachings, in keeping with the need of the time. Prior to the Islamic Revolution, Motahhari's intellectual struggle against the Marxist movement in Iran played a stellar role in turning away the youth from its ideology. He was one of the founders of Husayniyya Irshad, a very important center for the propagation of Islamic teachings prior to the revolution. Elucidating Islamic beliefs and acting according to the need of the time were the characteristics of Motahhari's intellectual activities. Islamic concepts that were earlier dealt with in a complicated and difficult manner were presented by Motahhari in a simple and easy manner in his own personal style. His books on different topics have been repeatedly published in Persian and other languages. Motahhari is considered an influential person and an intellectual leader of the Islamic revolution of Iran.

Motahhari was born on 3rd February 1920 in Fariman in one of the cities of Khorasan. His father, Muhammad Hasan Motahhari, was a well-known cleric of the locality. He studied in the Islamic seminary of Mashhad from the age of thirteen and after four years of education there, entered the Islamic seminary of Qom. He attended Ayatollah Burujirdi's lessons for eight years and that of Ayatollah Khomeini's for twelve years.

He met with Hajj Mirza 'Ali Agha Shirazi during his travels to Isfahan . This acquaintance laid down the foundation for him to start his expansive research on Nahj al-Balagha and culminated in his writing the book Glimpses of Najh al-Balagha. He was acquainted with Ayatollah Tabataba'i from the year 1329 Sh./1950-51 and formally studied under his presence for three years, but his relationship with him continued until the end of his life.

Motahhari moved to Tehran and taught at Sepahsalar School (present day Shahid Motahari University) and Marvi School. He published his first work i.e. the book Principles of Philosophy and the Method of Realism. He commenced his teaching at Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Tehran. In the course of these years, Motahhari had a close relationship with the group "Fada'iyan-i Islam" and used to give them his advice.

After the arrest of Imam Khomeini over the peoples' objections on the Pahlavi reign, Motahhari was imprisoned along with other clerics and was released after 43 days. After the uprising of 15th Khordad, he started assisting Jam'iyyat Mu'talifa Islami.